Today’s hike took on an exploratory spirit, as we set out without a predetermined route—just a GPS in hand and an adventurous mission to rediscover the old Cub World Scout Reservation. Departing from our usual meticulously planned hikes, we aimed to reconnect with memories and paths starting from Buck Hill Scout Reservation to Cub World Scout Reservation and back.

Many of us in the hiking group fondly recall our times at Cub World, where our kids once attended as scouts and us as parents. The camp was a vibrant hub of activities, offering everything from boating and fishing to go-karting, archery, and BB guns. Swimming and other exciting events also filled the agenda. The mess hall was an iconic spot where scouts had to sing for their meals, navigate a one-way system to avoid collisions, and enjoy staff-led skits and entertainment.

One skit, humorously recounted by ‘Timber,’ highlighted the issue of wastefulness by showing staff pretending to eat food from the trash and drink pickle juice to avoid wastage. Despite being a well-rehearsed act, it left a lasting impression on the young scouts present.

This February, Rhode Island has faced consistently freezing temperatures, resulting in icy trails and a solidly frozen pond—ideal for the ice fishers we encountered. Our journey began on Silver Brook Road, connecting to Munyon Trail, before we branched off to create our own path along Wakefield Pond. Eventually, we found another trail leading us to Cub World, and from there, urban road hiking took us back to the trailhead. It was a relatively short hike at 4.3 miles, but the icy conditions made for a slower pace than usual.

Although we didn’t see any wildlife, there was many signs of wildlife through footprints left in the snow. Can you identify these footprints found in the snow?